I think advance directives are a crucial part of healthcare, especially when it comes to terminal illnesses. These directives help relatives and healthcare professionals make vital decisions regarding one’s health during a crisis. During crisis such as an incurable terminal illness, loved ones and medical personnel are usually left to make hard decisions when a patient is unable to express themselves. Sometimes, it is difficult to deliberate what a patient’s wishes would be. An advance directive ensures that those involved are better placed at making decisions that are favorable to the patient. Usually, the decisions are made within the choices that an individual made when they were able to express themselves.
Among the advance directives available, I would choose the durable power of attorney for healthcare. This is because I am able to discuss with an individual what decision I would want made when I am unable to make any decisions. I am better placed at discussing with the attorney different scenarios and what my wishes would be in such scenarios. Another reason I would choose this advance directive is because the power of attorney does not apply to just terminal illness but any other period I am unable to make healthcare decisions. Most patients when faced with debilitating illnesses may be unable to make critical decisions on their own. Hence, it is important that someone else is able to make decisions the patients would make if they were able to think through their decisions objectively. Another advantage of the durable power of attorney for healthcare is that there is no vagueness involved such as in the case of a living will. A living will gives an attending physician the powers to carry out decisions. However, when terms are not clear in the will, the patient’s instructions may not be duly followed. Hence, I prefer to have an attorney who can make clear decisions for me when they need to.
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